Man shocked by male prostitute’s approach
PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT’S DISGUST AT BEING PROPOSITIONED IN PARK
A PHOTOGRAPHY student says he was left shocked after being propositioned by a male prostitute in a popular west Hull park.
Christopher Dias was practising his camera-panning skills in Pearson Park on Monday afternoon when he was approached by a man touting for business.
After declining the man’s advances, Mr Dias then witnessed him propositioning other men in the park, before he disappeared out of view with them.
Mr Dias said: “I was approached by a man who came up to me and asked me if I was looking.
“I ignored him and he gestured in a peacocking way making out he was beautiful – he was selling himself.
“He then went and stood under a tree, where he was approached by a number of other men. They disappeared down the alleyway and then he was back again.
“It must be a known area as quite a few men approached him and we would only be around there for 40 minutes maximum.”
Mr Dias has described the man as tall and very slim with dark skin. He says he was also wearing “heavy make-up”.
Mr Dias posted his account on the Hull Crime Watch Facebook page to make people aware of what had happened in the park, which is popular with young families.
He said: “It was something I didn’t expect to happen and I didn’t like it.”
Mr Dias believes CCTV cameras should be installed at the park in a bid to tackle any antisocial behaviour.
He said: “A possible solution in Pearson Park is to erect three CCTV masts covering the Beverley Road entrance and cameras that can follow a target.
“One where the old police station used to be and one where the children’s play area is, Penna’s Ice cream, and the memorial gardens.
“A watchful eye can be keep over the whole park and hopefully this would control antisocial behaviour.”
Humberside Police say they have not received any reports of prostitution in the park, but would encourage anyone who spots anything suspicious to report it to the force on 101.
A police spokesman said: “We have had no reports regarding any such incident in that area.
“If members of the public have any concerns then we always want you to pass on that information to us in the first instance.
“We need to know what people’s concerns are, so we can deploy our officers to the places where they need to be so we can act on those concerns.
“Call 101, or in an emergency call 999.”